Spring cushion structures adapted for embodiment in seat and back cushions of various types



Dec. 3, 1957 c. J. HUPP 2,815,066

s uc cusmou STRUCTURES ADAPTED FOR EMBODIMENT N SEAT AND BACK CUSHIONS OF VARIOUS TYPESI Filed July 19, 1954 IN VEN TOR.

United States Patent SPRING CUSHION STRUCTURES ADAPTED FOR EMBODllVIENT IN SEAT AND BACK CUSHIONS OF VARIOUS TYPES Charles J. Hupp, Detroit, Mich, assignor to L. A. Young Spring & Wire Corporation, Detroit, Mich.

Application July 19, 1954, Serial No. 444,077

7 Claims. (Cl. 155-479) This invention relates to spring cushion structures adapted for embodiment in seat and back cushions of various types.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a spring structure including body springs of helically coiled type with means for effectively and quickly mounting the border springs on the supporting frame.

Second, to provide a structure having these advantages in which the parts are simple and economical to produce and assemble.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed out in the claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary end elevation View of a seat cushion embodying a spring structure including my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view on a line corresponding to line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view on a line corresponding to line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in section on a line corresponding to line 44 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary front perspective view of the spring supporting bar or member.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan view illustrating the relation and connection of a brace to the spring supporting bar.

In the accompanying drawing 1 represents a seat cushion in which my spring unit is incorporated. Certain parts are shown conventionally as not being directly concerned with my invention and only such parts are detailed as are deemed desirable to an understanding of my invention.

The spring assembly of my invention comprises a base frame including front and rear members 2 and 3 which may be duplicates except they face in opposite directions. These base members are provided with inwardly facing channels 4 at their outer edges in which the skirt 5 of the upholstery 6 is secured by folding therein and retained by the wires or rods 7. However, the manner of attaching the upholstery forms no part of my present invention.

The body springs 8 are of the helically coiled type, only the border springs being illustrated. These springs are desirably assembled as a unit with suitable connecting means at the top and bottom of the springs.

The top border frame designated generally by the numeral 9 is that illustrated in the Asaro Patent No. 2,596,196, issued May 13, 1952.

The front and rear base frame members are provided with elongated spring attaching or supporting bars or members 10 which are fixedly secured thereto as by spot welding, indicated at 11. These spring attaching members 10 are provided with upwardly projecting inturned 2,815,066 Patented Dec. 3, 1957 "ice flanges 12 at their outer edges, the flanges terminating in a series of spaced downturned teeth 13 spaced inwardly from the inner edges of the attaching members. The flanges provide inwardly facing channels in which segmental portions of base coils 14 of the body springs 8 are disposed with the bottom coils resting upon the members 10 and the teeth retainingly engaged within the segments of the coils. This is accomplished after the segment of the spring is inserted or positioned on the support within the flange by compressing a portion of the flange as indicated at 15, Fig. 2.

Part of the teeth directly engage the inner periphery of the segment as best shown in Fig. 4. The teeth 16 adjacent the teeth engaged Within the segments of the springs are in clamping engagement with the tops of bottom coils as is clearly shown in Fig. 2. This prevents tilting of the springs and holds them in upright position as well as securing them to the attaching member.

The springs may be spaced as desired, initially the ends 17 of the teeth are spaced from the body portion 10 of the bar, as is shown in Figs. 2 and 5, so that in assembling the springs are merely inserted in the flange and portions of the flange are bent to engage the teeth with the segment of the bottom coils of the springs disposed in the flange as has been described.

The ends of the teeth are preferably tapered at 18 to facilitate the positioning of the spring coils and to provide eifective camming engagement of certain of the teeth with the inner periphery of the coils, as is shown in Fig. 4. With this arrangement of the parts the springs are securely connected to the frame and held in upright position.

The attaching member also provides effective means for securing the lower end of the brace 19 to the base, in the case illustrated, the rear base 3. The brace 19 is formed of Wire and has a laterally turned :arm 20 terminating in an inturned lug 21. The brace is arranged between adjacent springs 8, as is indicated in Fig. 6. The arm 20 of the brace is disposed within the flange with the brace at the juncture with the arm thereto disposed between adjacent pairs of teeth and the lug 21 disposed between another pair of teeth. The teeth 22 between the brace and the lug are clamped downwardly to pivotally retain the arm. The upper end of the brace is secured to the top frame 9.

It will be understood that commonly the intermediate spring and border springs are connected as a spring assembly unit and the bottom coils of the border spring of such a unit may be positioned on the attaching members with segments thereof within the flanges and the teeth of the flanges retainingly closed upon the segments of the springs. It will be understood that the base frame may vary in structure or design and for some embodiment the bars 10 may themselves constitute the supporting frame.

However, I have not deemed it necessary to illustrate the various embodiments and adaptations which I contemplate as it is believed that the disclosure made will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my invention as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a spring structure, the combination of an elongated spring supporting bar having an inturned flange at its outer edge, the edge of the flange having spaced teeth overhanging and directed toward the bar and spaced inwardly from the inner edge thereof, a plurality of helically coiled springs spaced longitudinally of the bar and having segmental portions of the bottom coils thereof supportedly disposed on said bar in outward thrust supported engagement with the inner side of the flange 3 thereof, portions of said flanges being bent downwardly with a plurality of teeth Within the segmental portion of the said coils disposed on the bar withcertain of the teeth in engagement with the inner periphery of the segments of the coils and with the ends of adjacent teeth in clamping engagement with the tops of the coils.

2. In a spring structure, the combination of an elongated spring supporting bar having an inturned flange at its outer edge, the edge of the flange having spaced teeth overhanging and directed toward the bar and spaced inwardly from the inner edge thereof, a plurality of helically coiled springs spaced longitudinally of the bar and having segmental portions of the bottom coils thereof supportedly disposed on said bar in outward thrust supported engagement with the inner side of the flange thereof, portions of said flanges being bent downwardly with a plurality of teeth within the segmental portion of the said coils disposed on the bar.

3. In a spring structure, the combination of an elongated spring supporting bar having an inturned flange at its outer edge, the edge of the flange having spaced teeth overhanging and directed toward the bar and spaced inwardly from the inner edge thereof, a helically coiled spring having segmental portions of the bottom coil thereof supportedly disposed on said bar with a plurality of teeth within the segmental portion of the said coil disposed on the bar with certain of the teeth in engagement with the inner periphery of the segments of the coils and with the ends of adjacent teeth in clamping engagement with the top of the coil.

4. In a spring structure, the combination with a plurality of helically coiled body springs, and a supporting bar therefore having an inturned flange at its outer edge, the edge of the flange having a series of teeth overhanging and directed toward the bar and spaced inwardly from the inner edge thereof, the springs being disposed in spaced relation longitudinally of the bar with segments thereof within the flange and supported on the bar, the teeth within the segments being closed around the same with certain of the teeth engaging the inner periphery of the segments with other adjacent teeth clampingly engaging the tops of the segments.

5. In a spring structure, the combination with a plurality of helically coiled body springs, and a supporting bar therefore having an inturned flange at its outer edge, the edge of the flange having a series of teeth overhanging and directed toward the bar and spaced inwardly from the inner edge thereof, the springs being disposed in spaced relation longitudinally of the bar with segments thereof within the flange and supported on the bar, the teeth within the segments being closed around the same with certain of the teeth engaging the inner periphery of the segments.

6. In a spring structure, the combination with a plurality of helically coiled body springs, and a supporting bar therefore having an inturned flange at its outer edge, the edge of the flange having a series of teeth overhanging and directed toward the bar and spaced inwardly from the inner edge thereof, the springs being disposed in spaced relation longitudinally of the bar with segments thereof within the flange and supported on the bar, the teeth within the segments being closed around the same with other adjacent teeth clampingly engaging the tops of the segments.

7. In a spring structure, the combination with a helically coiled spring, and a support therefore having an inturned flange at its outer edge, the edge of the flange having a series of teeth overhanging and directed toward the support and spaced inwardly from the inner edge thereof, the spring being disposed with a segment thereof within the flange and supported on the bar, the teeth within the segment being closed around the same with certain of the teeth engaging the inner periphery of the segment, other adjacent teeth clampingly engaging the top of the segment.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,246,081 Genge Nov. 13, :1917 1,480,753 Falls Jan. 15, 1924 1,853,031 Barnard et a1. Apr. 12, 1932 1,971,765 Bouser Aug. 28, 1934 2,256,958 Asaro et al. Sept. 16, 1941 

